Label imprinting apparatus with a plurality of interchangeable separate self-contained inking modules

ABSTRACT

The combination of a label imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use with the imprinting apparatus to supply a desired type of ink thereto. Each of the inking modules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprinting apparatus.

United States Patent John A. West;

William R. Eppes, both of Charlotte, N.C. 808,739

Mar. 20, 1969 June 22, 1971 ldento Equipment Company Charlotte, N.C.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LABEL Ill/[PRINTINGAPPARATUS WITH A PLURALITY OF INTERCHANGEABLE SEPARATE SELF-CONTAINEDINKING MODULE 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 101/228, 101/349 Int. Cl B411 13/04, 1341f 31/30 Field oiSearch101/349, 350, 351, 352, 227, 228

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3/1930 Ramdor 101/228 1,911,0485/1933 Adsit et al 101/209 X 2,046,742 7/1936 Helsel 101/227 X 2,999,4569/1961 Lanegan. 101/228 3,065,691 11/1962 Sohn 101/227 3,223,028 12/1965Brigham 101/351 X 3,229,631 l/l966 Peterson... 101/228 3,238,869 3/1966West et al.. 101/228 3,259,060 7/1966 Martin 101/247 PrimaryExaminer-William B. Penn Assistant Examiner-J. Reed FisherAttorney-Pariott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: The combinationof a label imprinting apparatus for successively printing seriallyarranged labels and the like connected together into a web ofindeterminate length and a plurality of separate inking modules forselective, alternative, interchangeable use with the imprintingapparatus to supply a desired type of ink thereto. Each of the inkingmodules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provideease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprintingapparatus.

PATENTEBJUNZBISYI 3.585.931

SHEET 1 [1F 4 INVENTORS: J H N A.\VE5T WILLIAM KEFPE BYW6dMu%MMi/mATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUHZZIQH 3585.931

SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR JOHN AWEST WILLIAM R. EPPES ATTORNEYS PATENEuJumsn 8,585,931

' saw u or 4 I INVENTORS: JOHN AWEST WILLIAM K. EPPE fiwfiffieilJifqWmdMATTORNEYS terchangeable, separate, self-contained inking modules whichmay be used alternatively in the label imprinting apparatus forsupplying a desired type of ink thereto.

Label imprinting apparatus, to which the present invention isspecifically directed, are designed to print continuous webs of labelsin which the labels themselves are serially arranged and eitherinterconnected into a web of indeterminate length from which web eachlabel is disconnected when use thereof is desired, or labels havingpressure sensitive or other types of adhesive on one side thereof andwhich are removably mounted on a continuous backing web which serves toconnect the labels together in spaces serial arrangement in a web ofindeterminate length. This type of label imprinting apparatus ofnecessity requires a specific arrangement of a printing cylinder and aninking system along with a feeding means for intermittently feeding theweb of labels to the printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotationthereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning andregistering successive labels in the web in proper position for theprinting thereof and, thereby, distinguishes this label imprintingapparatus from other types of more conventional printing apparatus, suchas lithographic, offset and other printing systems.

An improved label imprinting apparatus including the above describednecessary arrangement of structure is disclosed and claimed in US. Pat.No. 3,238,869, issued Mar. 8, 1966, and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention. However, this improved label imprinting apparatus andother known label imprinting apparatus for the printing of seriallyarranged labels in webs of indeterminate length have heretofore beenlimited in the use of different colors and types of ink when theprinting desired on a particular label is different from that used onlabels previously printed. In other words, when it is desired to changefrom the printing of one type of label to another type of label where adifferent type or color of ink is desired, it has heretofore beennecessary to stop operation of the imprinting apparatus for a prolongedperiod of time in order to dismantle the same for removing the inksupply roll containing a supply of ink therein and replacing the samewith a different ink supply roll containing the new type or color of inkdesired and to manualiy clean the ink transfer roll and the inkspreading roll so as to accommodate the new type or color of ink beingutilized.

This procedure has necessarily been laborious, time consuming anduneconomical in the operation of the imprinting apparatus. No means hasheretofore been satisfactorily provided in this type of label imprintingapparatus for easily and quickly changing the type or color of inkutilized therein. While other printing apparatus or systems haveattempted to provide means for easily and quickly changing the type orcolor of ink utilized therein, these other types of-printing apparatusare so radically different from the arrangement of the present labelimprinting apparatus that the same procedures could not be utilizedherein.

Additionally, previous label imprinting apparatus of this type had noprovisions for inking roll storage. Since the inking rolls containedtheir own ink supply and required individual replacement in theapparatus when the color or type of ink was changed, a problem of whatto do and how to store an inking roll which would secrete ink when itcontacted another surface was presented.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide animprinting apparatus for serially arranged labels in web form with ameans whereby the type or color of ink may be quickly and easily changedtherein and which does not require laborious interchanging of parts,prolonged periods of shutdown of the apparatus, cleaning, etc., andwhich provides a satisfactory storage means for the inking rolls priorto use in the apparatus.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an imprintingapparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and thelike connected together into a web of indeterminate length with aplurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative,interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to the imprintingapparatus and in which each of the inking modules is characterized bybeing completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling,disassembling and interchanging thereof in the printing apparatus and instorage of inking rolls.

It has been found by this invention that the above objects may beaccomplished by providing the following combination of apparatus.

A serially arranged label imprinting apparatus including a main housing,a driven rotatable printing cylinder carried by the housing for printinglabels presented thereto, and feeding means carried by the housing forintermittently feeding the web of labels to the printing cylinder intimed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of thelabels and for positioning and registering successive labels in the webin proper position for the printing thereof.

A plurality of separate inking modules, each of which comprises a modulehousing including means for registering with the main housing and forremovably securing the module housing to the main housing over theprinting cylinder, a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by the modulehousing and being positioned for operative association with the printingcylinder when the inking module is mounted in the imprinting apparatusfor supplying ink to the printing cylinder, a rotatable inking rollcarried by the module housing and having a supply of ink containedtherein and frictionally engaging the ink transfer roll for rotationtherewith to deposit a film of ink thereon, a rotatable andreciprocating ink spreading roll carried by the module housing andfrictionally engaging the ink transfer roll for rotation therewith andfor spreading the ink therealong, and drive means carried by the modulehousing and operatively connected to the ink transfer roll and the inkspreading roll for rotating the ink transfer roll and for reciprocatingthe ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the rotation of theprinting cylinder.

The apparatus further preferably comprises drive means carried by themain housing for rotating the printing cylinder and including meansregistering with the inking module drive means when the inking module isassembled in the imprinting apparatus to drive the inking module drivemeans for rotating the ink transfer roll and reciprocating the inkspreading roll in timed relationship to the rotation of the printingcylinder and which is easily disengaged from the module drive means whenthe inking module is removed from the imprinting apparatus.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the imprinting apparatus of thisinvention with an inking module attached therein and illustrating asecond inking module which may be interchanged with the inking moduleassembled therein;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left-hand side of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the imprinting apparatus of FIG. 1 with theinking module removed therefrom and with parts broken away to illustratethe drive to the printing cylinder thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic side elevational view of the imprintingapparatus and inking module of FIG. 1 illustrating the relativepositions of the printing cylinder, backup roll, ink transfer roll,inking roll, ink spreading roll, and label feeding means includingportions of the main housing and module housing in dotted lines;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional details taken substantiallyalong the lines 5-5, 6-6 and 77 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, respectively,showing portions of the means for removably securing the inking moduleto the imprinting apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view in exploded form taken generallyalong the line 8-8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view in exploded form takensubstantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a labelimprinting apparatus, generally indicated at 10, and a plurality ofinking modules utilized therewith, generally indicated at 12.

The imprinting apparatus 10 includes a main housing, broadly indicatedat 11, which includes a front wall 13, rear wall 14, sidewalls and 16,top supporting surface or wall 17 and a pair of vertically extending,spaced-apart plates 18 and 19 secured to and extending upwardly from thetop supporting wall 17 at generally one end of the main housing 11, asmay be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. These wall members are allinterconnected and secured together to form an integral main housing 11of a generally rectangular configuration.

The imprinting apparatus 10 further comprises a printing cylinder 20mounted for rotation on a shaft 21 journaled at its opposite ends insuitable bearings (not shown) on upstanding plates 18 and 19 of the mainhousing 11. The printing cylinder 20 is adapted to receive suitableprinting type or indicia, indicated schematically at 22 in FIG. 4,removably mounted in longitudinally extending slots 23 on the peripheryor outer surface of the printing cylinder 20. The printing'cylinder 20and the indicia 22 thereon cooperate with a backup roll 25, of anysuitable material such as rubber, mounted for rotation on a shaft 26joumaled in suitable bearings (not shown) in the main housing 11 andpositioned directly below the printing cylinder 20 for reception andprinting of a web W of labels L therebetween, as shown schematically inFIG. 4. The backup roll 25 includes an adjustment mechanism which ismore fully described in the above U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,869 and referenceto which may be had for a full understanding thereof.

For driving the printing cylinder 20 and the backup roll 25, there isprovided a suitable electric motor 30, as shown in FIG. 3, whichincludes a right angle gear reduction drive and clutch unit 31 whichrotates shaft 32 mounted by any suitable bearings on upstanding plates18 and 19. The shaft 32 includes on one end thereof a circular gear 33which meshes with an idler gear 34 mounted on a stub shaft carried in asuitable bearing on upstanding plate 19. The idler gear 34 in turnmeshes with a gear 36 secured to the shaft 21 carrying the printingcylinder 20. The gear 36 also meshes with a gear 37 (FIG. 8) carried onthe end of shaft 26 carrying the backup roll 25. Thus, as the motor 30is operated to rotate shaft 32 through right angle gear reduction driveand clutch unit 31, the gear 33 will be rotated to rotate idler gear 34which in turn rotates gear 36 and thus the printing cylinder 20 throughthe shaft 21 and rotates the gear 37 to rotate shaft 26 and thus thebackup roll 25. As may be seen schematically in FIG. 4, the printingindicia 22 is so located on the printing cylinder 20 that for eachrotation of the printing cylinder 20 one or more labels L on thecontinuous web W may be printed.

For intermittently feeding the web W of labels L to the printingcylinder 20 in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successiveprinting of the labels and for positioning and registering successivelabels in the web in proper position for the printing thereof, there isprovided the following apparatus. A main feeding means comprisingcooperating upper and lower cams and 41, respectively (FIG. 4), aremounted on shafts 32 and 42, respectively, for rotation therewith. Thesecams 40 and 41 have portions 400 and 41a of their periphery or outersurface protruding outwardly beyond the remainder thereof whichcooperate with each other to intermittently feed the labels forwardly intimed relation to the rotation of the printing cylinder 20. Lower feedcam 41 is aligned with a suitable opening in top plate or wall 17 sothat the portion 41a thereof penetrates therethrough.

Feed earns 40 and 41 feed the labels L on the web W between the printingcylinder 20 and the backup roll 25 at the same time that the printingtype or indicia 22 on the printing cylinder 20 is passing in contactwith the backup roll 25, which is also partially disposed in a suitableopening in top plate or wall 17, so that the labels are moving at thesame linear speed as the surface speed of the printing cylinder 20 asthe same are printed. Adjustment means 45, as more fully described inthe above U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869, is provided for adjusting the feedcams 40 and 41 relative to each other and locking them in adjustedposition so that the range of feed of the feed cams may be varied up tothe circumference of the protruding portions 40a and 41a.

For rotating or driving the feed cams 40 and 41, the abovedescribedmotor 30 and right angle gear reduction drive and clutch unit 31 rotateshaft 32 and gear 33. The upper feed cam 40 is mounted for rotation onshaft 32 and thus is driven thereby. The gear 33 engages with a gear 46,as shown in FIG. 8, which is secured to shaft 42 and thus rotates shaft42 and lower feed cam 41.

An auxiliary feed means is also provided for the labels L beingimprinted for assuring proper positioning of each successive label forfeeding to the printing cylinder 20 by feed cams 40 and 41 and forproper registration of the printing type or indicia 22 with the portionsof the labels on which the printed copy is desired. This auxiliaryfeeding means comprises an elongate horizontally extending arm 50mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement at its forward end aroundshaft 32 by an elongate horizontally extending slot 51 and at its rearend on a shaft 52 by a similar horizontally extending elongate slot (notshown) so that the arm 50 may reciprocate back and forth in a generallyhorizontal path of movement.

Secured to the arm 50 between the ends thereof is a C- shaped clampmember 55 which carries on its lower end thereof feeding fingers 56. Thefeeding fingers 56 reciprocate with the arm 50 to engage the rearmostedge of the labels L carried by the web W to correctly position eachsuccessive label L for feeding by the feed cams 40 and 41 for correctregistration of the labels relative to the printing cylinder 20 toensure correct position of the copy or printing indicia on the labels.The clamp member 55 may be quickly and easily adjusted longitudinally ofthe arm 50 by a suitable threaded bolt, as shown in FIG. 4.

For reciprocating the arm 50 and thus feeding fingers 56, the forwardend of the arm 50 carries a cam follower 57 which is adapted to becontacted by a rotating eccentric cam 58 carried on the shaft 32, asshown in FIG. 4, so that as the cam 58 is rotated the cam follower 57and the arm 50 will be moved or reciprocated in a generally horizontalpath of motion. For further details of the operation and function ofboth the main and auxiliary feeding means and the adjustments thereof,reference may be had to the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869.

For presenting the web W of labels L to the above-described main andauxiliary feeding means for printing thereof by the printing cylinder20, there is provided any suitable roll supply means, generallyindicated in the drawings at 60, and carried by the main housing 11 ofthe imprinting apparatus 10 at the rear-end thereof. For further detailsof a construction for this supply means 60, reference may be had to theabove-noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869.

Each of inking modules 112 for alternative use with the above-describedimprinting apparatus 10 generally comprises a module housing, generallyindicated at 70, and which comprises front plates 71, a rear plate 72, atop plate 73, and side plates 74 and 75. These plates are allinterconnected and secured together in any suitable manner to form anintegral module housing 70 of a generally rectangular construction. Someof these plates may be removable for obtaining access to the interior ofthe module housing.

Each of the inking modules 12 further comprises an ink transfer or formroll of suitable rubberlike material rotatably mounted on a shaft 81carried in suitable bearings in side plates 74 and 75 of the modulehousing 70 in the lower portion thereof for supplying ink to theprinting cylinder 20 and the printing indicia 22 thereon.

An inking roller 85 is suitably mounted for rotation on a shaft 86carried by suitable means on the side plates 74 and 75 of the modulehousing. The inking roll 85 is of the type which contains a supply ofliquid ink therein and is in frictional contact with the ink transferroll 80 for rotation therewith and for depositing a supply of ink on theouter surface thereof.

There is further provided a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreadingroll 88 suitably mounted on a shaft 89 and preferably of a metalconstruction, such as polished steel. The shaft 89 is joumaled adjacentits opposite ends in suitable bearings in side plates 74 and 75 of themodule housing 70 for rotating and reciprocating movement relativethereto. The ink spreading roll 88 rests on and is in frictionalengagement with the ink transfer roll 80 to be rotated thereby for thespreading of ink along the surface thereof supplied thereto by theinking roll 85, The reciprocating movement of the ink spreading roll 88will spread a film of ink along the entire outside surface of the inktransfer roll 80.

For rotating the ink transfer roll 80 and thus the inking roll 85 andthe ink spreading roll 88, the shaft 81 carrying the ink transfer .roll80 includes a circular gear 91 adjacent one end thereof which is adaptedto be driven by the imprinting apparatus drive means, as describedbelow. Thus, as the gear 91 is rotated, the shaft 81 and the inktransfer roll 80 will be rotated. The ink transfer roll 80 is infrictional engatement with the inking roll 85 and the ink spreading roll88 to thus rotate these rolls therewith.

For reciprocating the ink spreading roll 88 for spreading a film of inkover the ink transfer roll 80, the shaft 89 carrying the ink spreadingroll 88 includes, on the outer end thereof and on the other side of sideplate 75, a collar member 100 which has an annular groove extendingtherearound, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9. Mounted in theannular groove on the collar member 100 is a follower 101 which ismounted on one end of an actuating lever 102. Actuating lever 102 ispivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a bolt means 103 carried by asuitable boss extending from the side plate 75. A second follower 104 ismounted on the other end of actuating lever 102 and is received in aspiral groove (indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9) on a cam member 105carried for rotation by a shaft 106 mounted in a suitable bearing in theside plate 75 The shaft 106 is rotated by a gear 107 carried thereon andwhich meshes with a gear 108 mounted on a shaft 109 extending through asuitable bearing in side plate 75 for rotation. The other end of shaft109 includes a gear 110 on the other side of side plate 75. The gear 110is adapted to be driven by the imprinting apparatus drive means, as willbe described below, for rotating shaft 109, gear 108, gear 107, shaft106, and cam 105. As the cam 105 is rotated, the follower 104 will bemoved longitudinally of the shaft 106 to pivot the actuating arm 102about the bolt 103. This pivoting of the arm 102 will reciprocate thefollower 101 and thus the collar 100 to longitudinally reciprocate theshaft 89 and thus the ink spreading roll 88.

Various tensioning and adjustment means are provided for the rolls inthe inking module. These adjustment and tensioning means do not form anypart of this invention and are fully described in the above-noted US.Pat. No. 3,238,869 and reference may be had to that patent for a fulldisclosure thereof.

For securing the inking modules 12 in position in the imprintingapparatus so that the ink transfer roll 80 is positioned for operativeassociation with the printing cylinder for supplying ink thereto and tothe printing indicia 22 thereof, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, thebottom surface of side plates 74 and 75 of the module housing 70 areconfigured to register with the upper surface of upstanding plates 18and 19 of the main housing of the imprinting apparatus, as shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the inking module 12 is shownexploded or spaced from the imprinting apparatus 10, but theregistration of the respective portions of the housing may be clearlyseen therein.

For removably holding the inking module 12 in position on the inkingapparatus 10, there is provided, on the upstanding plate 18 of the mainhousing 11, a boss 111 extending inwardly thereof and containing athreaded aperture 111a for the reception of a threaded bolt 112 slidablypassing through a boss 113 secured to the side plate 74 of the modulehousing 70, as shown clearly in FIG. 6. The upstanding plate 18 of themain housing 11 also includes a pair of bosses 115 and 116 extendingoutwardly therefrom and carrying upstanding pin members 117 and 118,respectively, which are adapted to be received in suitable apertures inprotruding bosses 119 and 120 on side plate 74 of module housing 70.Also, the upstanding plate 19 of the main housing 11 carries a boss 122protruding outwardly therefrom and which includes a threaded aperture122a for receiving a threaded bolt 123 slidably carried through a boss124 protruding outwardly and secured to the side plate 75 of the modulehousing 70. Thus, when an inking module 12 is slipped into place withthe side plates 74 and 75 registering with the upstanding plates 18 and19 of the main housing 11, the pins 117 and 118 will be received in thebosses 119 and 120 and the bolts 112 and 123 may be rotated intoengagement withing the threaded apertures 111a and 122a of the bosses111 and 122 to secure the module housing 70 to the main housing 11.

When the inking module 12 is positioned, as described above, in theimprinting apparatus 10, the gears 91 and 110 in the inking module 12,which drive ink transfer roll 80, inking roll 85 and ink spreading roll88 and reciprocate ink spreading roll 88, will engage and be driven bygears 36 and 33, respectively, as may be seen in FIG. 8. It is notedthat FIG. 8 is an exploded view but the engagement of these gears whenthe inking module is positioned on the imprinting apparatus may beclearly seen. Thus, the rotation and reciprocation of the rollscontained in the inking module are controlled by and correlated in timedrelationship to the label feeding means and the imprinting cylinder ofthe imprinting apparatus.

By this invention, there has been provided an imprinting apparatusincluding a plurality of separate inking modules for selective,alternative, interchangeable use of supply a desired type or color ofink to the printing cylinder and in which each of the inking modules ischaracterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease inassembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprinting apparatus.The drives for the rolls contained in each inking module are engageablewith the drives for the feeding means and printing cylinder of theimprinting apparatus which are also interengaged and driven by a singlemotor so that the label feeding, printing and ink supplying may be allcorrelated in timed relationship for the proper printing of labels inthe apparatus.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printingserially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web ofindeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housinghaving a pair of upstanding spaced-apart plates including a threadedaperture in each and being secured to the upper surface thereof, arotatable printing cylinder carried by said upstanding plates forprinting labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housingfor intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinderin timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of thelabels and for positioning and registering successive labels in properposition for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said mainhousing and including a single motor means, a gear means operativelyconnected to said printing cylinder and a separate gear meansoperatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylindergear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printingcylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for theproper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of aplurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative,interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printingcylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by beingcompletely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassemblingand interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of saidinking modules comprising:

a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls andsidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registeringwith said upstanding plates of said main housing and carrying threadedbolt means for reception by said apertures in said upstanding plates toremovably secure each of said inking modules to said imprintingapparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inkingmodules from said imprinting apparatus,

b. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing andbeing positioned for operative association with said printing cylinderwhen said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus forsupplying ink to said printing cylinder,

c. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having asupply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said inktransfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon,

d. a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by saidmodule housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll forrotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and

c. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said inktransfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and including agear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and whichmeshes with said printing cylinder drive gear when said inking module isassembled in said imprinting apparatus for driving said ink transferroll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, andgear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll andengaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when saidinking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus forreciprocating said ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the driveof said feeding means and the rotation of said printing cylinder, saidmodule drive means being easily disengaged from said printing cylinderand feeding means drive means when said inking module is removed fromsaid imprinting apparatus.

2. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printingserially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web ofindeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housinghaving a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a rotatable printing cylindercarried by said sidewalls for printing labels presented thereto, feedingmeans carried by said housing for intermittently feeding the web oflabels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotationthereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning andregistering successive labels in proper position for the printingthereof, and drive means carried by said main housing and includingmotor means, gear means operatively connected to said printing cylinderand separate gear means operatively connected to said feeding means andsaid printing cylinder gear means and being driven by said motor meansto rotate said printing cylinder and drive said feeding means in timedrelationship for the proper printing of the serially arranged labels;the improvement of a plurality of separate inking modules for selective,alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to saidprinting cylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized bybeing completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling,disassembling and interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus,each of said inking modules comprising:

a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls andsidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registeringwith said sidewalls of said main housing,

b. fastening means carried by said main and module housings forremovably securing each of said inking modules to said imprintingapparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inkingmodules from said imprinting apparatus,

c. positioning and registering means carried by said main and modulehousings for positioning and registering said module housing on saidmain housing, said positioning and registering means being separate fromsaid fastening means and comprising cooperating pins and brackets havingopenings therein for receipt of the pins,

. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and beingpositioned for operative association with said printing cylinder whensaid inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplyingink to said printing cylinder,

e. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having asupply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said inktransfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon,

f. a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by saidmodule housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll forrotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and

g. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said inktransfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and includinggear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and whichmeshes with said printing cylinder drive gear means when said inkingmodule is assembled on said main housing for driving said ink transferroll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, andgear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll andengaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when saidinking module is assembled on said main housing for reciprocating saidink spreading roll in timed relationship to the drive of said feedingmeans and the rotation of said printing cylinder, said module drivemeans being easily disengaged from said printing cylinder and feedingmeans drive means when said inking module is removed from saidimprinting apparatus.

1. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printingserially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web ofindeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housinghaving a pair of upstanding spaced-apart plates including a threadedaperture in each and being secured to the upper surface thereof, arotatable printing cylinder carried by said upstanding plates forprinting labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housingfor intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinderin timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of thelabels and for positioning and registering successive labels in properposition for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said mainhousing and including a single motor means, a gear means operativelyconnected to said printing cylinder and a separate gear meansoperatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylindergear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printingcylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for theproper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of aplurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative,interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printingcylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by beingcompletely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassemblingand interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of saidinking modules comprising: a. a module housing including a top wall,front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form,said sidewalls registering with said upstanding plates of said mainhousing and carrying threaded bolt means for reception by said aperturesin said upstanding plates to removably secure each of said inkingmodules to said imprinting apparatus and to allow easy disassembly andinterchanging of said inking modules from said imprinting apparatus, b.a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and beingpositioned for operative association with said printing cylinder whensaid inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplyingink to said printing cyliNder, c. a rotatable inking roll carried bysaid module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein andfrictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith todeposit a film of ink thereon, d. a rotatable and reciprocating inkspreading roll carried by said module housing and frictionally engagingsaid ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the inktherealong, and e. drive means carried by said module housing forrotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreadingroll and including a gear means operatively connected to said inktransfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinder drive gearwhen said inking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus fordriving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to the rotation of saidprinting cylinder, and gear means operatively associated with said inkspreading roll and engaging said gear means for driving said labelfeeding means when said inking module is assembled in said imprintingapparatus for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timedrelationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of saidprinting cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged fromsaid printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inkingmodule is removed from said imprinting apparatus.
 2. In combination withan imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arrangedlabels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminatelength and including a generally rectangular main housing having a pairof upstanding sidewalls, a rotatable printing cylinder carried by saidsidewalls for printing labels presented thereto, feeding means carriedby said housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to saidprinting cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof forsuccessive printing of the labels and for positioning and registeringsuccessive labels in proper position for the printing thereof, and drivemeans carried by said main housing and including motor means, gear meansoperatively connected to said printing cylinder and separate gear meansoperatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylindergear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printingcylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for theproper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of aplurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative,interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printingcylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by beingcompletely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassemblingand interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of saidinking modules comprising: a. a module housing including a top wall,front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form,said sidewalls registering with said sidewalls of said main housing, b.fastening means carried by said main and module housings for removablysecuring each of said inking modules to said imprinting apparatus and toallow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inking modules fromsaid imprinting apparatus, c. positioning and registering means carriedby said main and module housings for positioning and registering saidmodule housing on said main housing, said positioning and registeringmeans being separate from said fastening means and comprisingcooperating pins and brackets having openings therein for receipt of thepins, d. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housingand being positioned for operative association with said printingcylinder when said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatusfor supplying ink to said printing cylinder, e. a rotatable inking rollcarried by said module housing and having a supply of ink containedtherein and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotationtherewith to deposit a film of ink thereon, f. a roTatable andreciprocating ink spreading roll carried by said module housing andfrictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith andfor spreading the ink therealong, and g. drive means carried by saidmodule housing for rotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocatingsaid ink spreading roll and including gear means operatively connectedto said ink transfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinderdrive gear means when said inking module is assembled on said mainhousing for driving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to therotation of said printing cylinder, and gear means operativelyassociated with said ink spreading roll and engaging said gear means fordriving said label feeding means when said inking module is assembled onsaid main housing for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timedrelationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of saidprinting cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged fromsaid printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inkingmodule is removed from said imprinting apparatus.